'If you level a gun at an officer, we will use deadly force to stop you'
SUNNYSIDE, Wash. -- Police in Sunnyside said using deadly force was never a question when officers opened fire on a man outside mini mart Wednesday. The police chief told Action News officers responded to a direct threat.
A much different scene Thursday afternoon - sun and blue skies. Investigators still combed the Sunnyside neighborhood for evidence in a shooting that left a man dead in the damp, dark night before.
Neighbors are still coming to terms with what happened.
"My heart goes out to anybody who loses their life especially if they're a parent and leave behind any children," said neighbor Lynette Rodriguez.
Police told KIMA they had no choice but to shoot 27-year-old Ramon Ayala. He had a gun and wouldn't put it down.
"Why in this case did police need to use force?" KIMA asked.
"The suspect pointed the gun towards the officer after shooting several rounds in the area," said Sgt. Joe Glossen.
Sunnyside police say they make safe arrests almost daily that involve guns. In this case, the officers felt their lives were threatened.
"We're not going to trade bullets with somebody, you understand what I'm saying. If you level a gun at an officer, we will use deadly force to stop you," Glossen said.
Any time there's an officer-involved shooting, the comments light up on KIMA's Facebook page.
Many neighbors feel it's never warranted. Rodriguez said she trusts the decisions made by police.
"We have a very, very capable police force and I know they would never do anything unless they felt like the safety of bystanders was threatened," Rodriguez said.
She says she's happy no one else was hurt.
"There were kids coming home from two elementary schools. Yeah, that really panics me," she said.
Police said it's still not clear why the man was firing shots. They said he had no substantial background and it was not gang-related. Glossen said it simply might have been a death wish.
"We are not ruling that out," he said.
For now the investigation continues and neighbors said they won't let it effect their way of life.
"It's not going to change the way we live," Rodriguez said. "We're still going to do our walking and our biking and our grandchildren are still going to come and play."
It is standard procedure for officers to be put on paid leave anytime they use their weapons.
Ramon Ayala's friends and family did not agree to an interview.
The right of self defense applies to every one
If someone levels a gun at a private citizen should they should use deadly force to stop them as well; or should they dial 911 and hope for the best?.
Kudos to the Sunnyside PD..Yes its a tragic incident.. and the loss of a life is disheartening, however the message needs to be sent to the criminal elements.." If you are told to put down the weapon by law enforcement.. you best be kissing pavement as well" We live in a society that tolerates gun ownership.. and one of the more dangerous occupations within our society is law enforcement, especially when you factor in just how liberal access to weapons really is, with those that HAVE NO RIGHT to bear arms..According to the report the weapon was pointed at the police rather than being put down, and the perpetrator of the crime had already discharged the weapon previous to the arrival of the police... clearly the police were in danger, and had every right to protect themselves,... as well as the potential innocent citizens if the PD had not disarmed him